Education and Science, Latvia

The Constituent Assembly of Ventspils University College elected Kreslins rector by 18 votes to nine.

In the elections, Kreslins competed with four other contenders: Ventspils University College’s former rector Gita Revalde, Sergejs Hilkevics, an associate professor at the university college’s Faculty of Economics and Management, Dr. oec., businessman and management counselor Janis Caune and businesses and NGO expert Aivars Lasmanis.

Revalde, however, withdrew from the race today after Riga Administrative District Court advised her that if the court rules in her favor and she is reinstated in office as the university college’s rector, the newly elected rector can lose the job.

Kreslins will take office as Ventspils University College after his candidacy is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

As reported, the position of Ventspils University College rector became vacant after the Constituent Assembly of Ventspils University College last year dismissed Revalde as rector.

Relations between Revalde and Ventspils City Council had been steadily worsening for some time. The municipality issued a press release stating that the performance of Ventspils University College had been declining, regardless of growing financing amounts provided by the city council. On the other hand, Revalde claimed just the contrary - that the college's performance had been improving.